Alcohol abuse is increasingly emerging as a quiet but powerful threat to marital stability in Rwanda. While love, commitment and shared responsibility remain central to family life, national data and personal testimonies reveal that excessive and dependent drinking is fueling conflict, emotional distance and, in many cases, family breakdown.
During the 2024/2025 judicial year, at least 2,674 couples filed for divorce, with alcohol abuse and alcoholism frequently cited in family assessments as major sources of domestic tension. Findings from the Rwanda Governance Board (RGB) Citizen Scorecard Report (2024) and the Ministry of Gender and FamilyPromotion point to alcohol misuse as one of the leading drivers of family dysfunction nationwide.
According to the RGB Citizen Scorecard Report, alcohol abuse stands out as the primary cause of family dysfunction, cited at 85.4% of respondents. The report notes that it surpasses other contributing factors such as poor communication and weak parenting.
Experts and community members alike acknowledge that harmful drinking patterns often undermine trust, strain finances and erode emotional bonds between spouses. What may begin as social drinking can gradually escalate into dependency, bringing with it neglect of family responsibilities and increased domestic conflict.
Testimonies from affected families
For many Rwandans, the impact of alcoholism on marriage is deeply personal.
Kamariza Claudette, a resident of Muhanga District, describes how alcohol abuse slowly dismantled her family life.
“My husband’s excessive drinking gradually destroyed the stability of our home. It created constant tension, made him neglect his responsibilities toward the children, and caused repeated conflicts between us. Over time, the emotional connection faded, and separation became unavoidable,” she said.
Others highlight the economic strain caused by excessive drinking. Emmanuel Tuyambaze, a Kigali resident, admits that alcohol once took priority over his family.
“There was a time when alcohol came before my family. Most of the money I earned went to drinking, and this created constant stress and insecurity at home. When I realized my behavior was putting my family’s future at risk, I decided to quit drinking so I could restore trust and stability,” he said.
For some women, the consequences extend beyond financial hardship to include violence. Janette Uwizeyimana, a mother of two from Karongi District, says her husband’s heavy drinking ultimately forced her to leave the marriage.
“Whatever money he earned was spent on alcohol, leaving nothing for the family. When he was drunk, he became violent toward me. I realized the situation would not change, so I decided to separate,” she explained.
Government perspective
Government officials acknowledge the scale of the problem and its impact on family well-being. Aline Umutoni, Director General of Family Promotion and Child Protection at the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion, says alcoholism remains one of the most destabilizing factors in Rwandan households.
“Alcoholism and lack of family time are among the major factors destabilising Rwandan families. Alcoholism alone accounts for around 82.8% of the root causes of family-related issues,” she noted.
National surveys reinforce these concerns. According to the latest available data from 2022, alcohol consumption in Rwanda increased from 41% in 2013 to 48% in 2022. In the 30 days preceding the survey, 61.9% of men and 34.3% of women reported consuming alcohol.
Evidence from the Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey (RDHS 2015–2020) further shows a strong link between alcohol use and family violence. Women whose partners consumed alcohol were nearly three times more likely to experience intimate partner violence than those whose partners did not drink. The overall prevalence of intimate partner violence rose from 40.1% in 2015 to 46% in 2020.
While these surveys focus on alcohol consumption rather than clinical alcoholism, experts warn that prolonged excessive drinking can develop into dependency, amplifying its harmful effects on marriages, children and communities.
As Rwanda works to strengthen family values and social cohesion, addressing alcohol abuse remains a critical step. For many couples, acknowledging the problem early and seeking change could mean the difference between separation and a renewed, stable family life.
Author: Daniel Ngendahimana